2023 NFL Draft – Safety Rankings

Complete NFL Draft Rankings – S:

You are currently viewing the best safeties in the 2023 NFL Draft. Our top safety prospects are selected after thousands of hours carefully scouting the best defensive backs in college football. Even though only about 20 will get selected in the draft, many more are signed as free agents, and many more receive a training camp invite. Find who is a first round talent, and who is likely nothing more than a training camp body. Find strong safeties and free safeties that are draft sleepers and draft stars, learn who will be a bust, and who is being undervalued.

BNB Football is the best place for in-depth analysis of 2023 safety prospects at all levels of college football. To view other positions, follow the links below.

(Last Updated: April 25, 2023)

2023:  | QB | WR | RB | FB | TE | OT | G | C | DT | EDGE | ILB | S | CB | K | P | LS | OVERALL |

Brian Branch is an elite football player with incredible natural instincts who can play all over the field. After playing a significant role each of his first two years for Alabama, he settled into the “Star" position this past year, effectively being a slot safety/linebacker. He exceled in this role, showing excellent recognition on run plays and a dominant first step to fly into the backfield and blow up plays. Branch doesn’t have elite size (6’0" 195) but he plays a lot bigger than that, with good balance and an ability to slip off blocks. He’s played a true safety position in the past and still looked the part of a top 50 pick, and his football IQ and leadership have been praised by Nick Saban and the rest of the Bama coaching staff. There are very few downsides to his game, and he should be the top option for a team looking to improve at the slot position.

2022 Stats

13 games: 90 tackles, 14.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, 9 passes defended, 2 interceptions, 0 fumbles forced

Jartavius Martin was probably the most impressive player the NFL combine, showcasing elite athleticism and also dominating the on-field workouts. While he doesn’t have elite size for the position at 5’11" 194 pounds, he plays a very tough style of football, and compensates for it with explosive traits like his combine-best 44" vertical jump. Martin primarily played in the slot at Illinois, and had an incredible season in terms of on-ball production. He’s also shown solid instincts diagnosing run plays, and consistent improvements as a tackler over the years. While he was often overshadowed in the Illini secondary by Sydney Brown and Devon Witherspoon, Martin also has a chance to hear his name called very early in the draft.

2022 Stats

13 games: 64 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, 14 passes defended, 3 interception, 2 fumbles forced

Jordan Battle’s stats this year didn’t jump off the page, but if you’re able to get your hands on some all-22 film, you’ll see one of the most consistent defensive backs in the draft class. Battle played primarily as a deep field safety this past year, but is also great defending in man coverage, with the physicality to develop into a good box safety. He has ideal physical traits for the position, with prototypical size at 6’1" 205 and a full array of athletic traits like straight line speed, fluid hips, and quick feet. Battle excels at reading the eyes of the quarterback and jumped a ton of routes before teams started scheming against him, and is very well coached. Battle’s biggest struggle has been some missed tackles over the years, but overall he’s the most NFL ready safety in the class with a very high floor.

2022 Stats

13 games: 71 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, 0.0 sacks, 3 passes defended, 1 interception, 0 fumbles forced

Sydney Brown was one of college football’s breakout stars in 2022, finishing with 13 total passes defended, including 6 interceptions which was tied for most of all Power 5 players. The big time ball production was an outlier this past season, but the film matches the production, and he doubled down with a strong week in coverage at the Senior Bowl. Brown is actually best known among scouts for his success as a run stuffer from the box, showing great closing speed and the raw strength to deliver hits. The biggest place he’ll need to improve is in his footwork, as he takes unnecessary steps which will get him out of position against shifty receivers.

2022 Stats

12 games: 60 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, 13 passes defended, 6 interceptions, 1 fumble forced

Antonio Johnson is a tall and long safety who has played all over the field, with success in the slot, in the box, or deep in cover two. Johnson shows very quick recognition and a high football IQ that you need to excel as a safety, with the change of direction ability to mirror out of the slot. Johnson has pretty fluid hips for someone of his size, and has the length to turn into a consistent disruptor at the catch point. Johnson does a surprisingly good job at setting the edge in the run game despite his someone lean frame, and is a consistent tackler who can force fumbles. The biggest question for Johnson will probably be his straight line speed when trying to cover receivers deep, and he’ll want to add some bulk to his frame.

2022 Stats

9 games: 71 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, 1 pass defended, 0 interceptions, 3 fumbles forced

Complete 2023 S draft rankings

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2023:  | QB | WR | RB | FB | TE | OT | G | C | DT | EDGE | ILB | S | CB | K | P | LS | OVERALL |

A month ago I was very low on the 2023 draft’s safety class, but they’ve started to grow on me. Brian Branch is an incredible talent, and while there’s a dropoff after him, players like Jammie Robinson, Jordan Battle, and Antonio Johnson have plenty to offer an NFL team. There is also very little separating the 15th best safety from the 40th best safety, meaning we could be in store for a few surprisingly strong undrafted rookies here. The safeties completely failed to impress me at the Senior Bowl and East-West Shrine Game, so it’ll be interesting to see if they look better at the NFL Combine.